Super Frisbee

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a device for improving the flying characteristics of conventional flying discs. The flying disc comprises a hollow tubing of a length sufficient to encircle the inner circumference of the flying disc forming a continuous hollow ring. The hollow tube encloses ball bearings, which can freely roll inside the hollow tubing, and the number of ball bearings could be manipulated by removing the ball bearings from the hollow tube or adding additional ball bearing inside the tube. The device could be affixed to the inner circumference of the flying disc for adjusting the weight of flying disc. Furthermore, the hollow tubing could further comprise an illumination source allowing the use of flying disc for playing in dark.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Not Applicable

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of Invention

This invention relates to flying discs, more particularly, to flying discs with variable weight adjustments and illuminations.

(2) Background of Invention

Flying discs are saucer-shaped devices comprising a thin-walled disc-like object comprising a central portion bounded about its perimeter by an annular rim portion whose outer perimeter curls downward to form a lip about the perimeter of the disc. The central rim portion and lip are shaped to provide an aerodynamic profile whereby when the disc is flung through the air with a spinning motion, it sails or glides. To throw the flying disc, the user grips the flying disc by its edge and with a flick of the wrist and arm throws the flying disc, thereby imparting a spinning motion. This spinning motion along with the impetus of the throwing action causes the flying disc to fly through the air and over quite a long distance.

These have been around for years and are used by people of all ages for recreation purposes. These could be frequently seen on beaches, in the parks, yards, or even in the streets. The trademark Frisbee® is one such type of flying disc and is quite popular among people. The popularity of such discs has grown, so have the skills required in using them. An important aspect of their appeal is the challenge presented in them in throwing the disc as far as possible. As skills increase, so does critical evaluation of the various factors, which contribute to the flight characteristics of such discs. Subtle changes in weight and shape have been found to produce significant effects on disc performance, leading to the introduction of discs of different diameters, cross-sectional profiles, and weights.

Discs of certain sizes and weights are more suitable to a particular person or for an occasion, for example, in sports the disc is preferred, which has flights of maximum duration or curved trajectory. Moreover, wind conditions have an important bearing on the particular disc i.e. an enthusiastic will prefer heavier one in windy weather. Thus, the various requirements of different players have led to different designs of such discs, particularly different weights of disc. However, the flying discs have not evolved much keeping in view the increasing popularity. Prior art discloses few attempts to vary the weight variation in flying disc to improve its flying characteristics but these do not provide any significant means to adjust the weight according to users requirement. Very few disclosures have attempted to provide discs with weight adjusting means; however, these are very complex and costly.

Moreover, attempts have been made to improve the utility as well as appearance of flying disc by adding illuminations to the flying disc. Several systems have been used in the past to illuminate flying discs. One of the earliest systems was to use glow-in-the-dark materials to construct the flying disc. Such materials either could be integrated into the structure of the disc, or could be added by means of special coating materials. Typically, the result was a disc that produced a desirable eerie glow at night, but was often ineffective during the twilight hours due to the relatively high ambient light level. Moreover, the glow frequently did not last long, and many discs required frequent recharging by direct exposure to a strong light source.

Later systems used light emitting diodes (LEDs) as a light source, powered by small low voltage batteries. In part for reasons of esthetics, and in part to conserve battery power, a few flying discs have provided circuitry to apply a square wave or similar cyclic voltage to the LEDs. This type of circuitry has included timer circuits and oscillators formed from NOR or NAND gates.

Thus, a need is clear for improved flying discs with that could be adjusted in weight combined with ability to glow in dark, making them useful to play in evening or night, and at same time could be thrown to longer distances.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, therefore, has as its principal object to provide a flying disc with improved flying characteristics; more particularly the present invention provides a means to adjust the weight of flying disc in combination with ability to glow.

Certain embodiments of current invention, but are not limited to, is to provide a flying disc with a tube encircled along the rim of the disc. The tube encompasses ball bearings of suitable diameter and further comprises a means to illuminate.

According to another embodiment, the flying disc of current invention could be of the shape and size similar to any conventional flying disc known in prior art. Preferably, the disc is made of a plastic material and having saucer shape with a rim located around the edge of the saucer; the rim curves downwardly from the saucer and has a configuration such that the implement when viewed in elevation approximates the shape of an airfoil.

According to another embodiment of current invention, the flying disc is affixed with a hollow tube along the inner circumference of rim of the disc.

According to another embodiment of current invention, the tube is of length encircling almost completely the inner circumference of the rim of the flying disc. The two opposite ends of tube are joined using suitable means, such that the encircled tube remains hollow throughout its length without any obstacle.

According to another embodiment of current invention, the tube could be made of any suitable material that is tough, flexible, and could be drawn into a hollow tube. Preferably, the tube could be made of materials such as polymers, silicon, and rubber and like.

According to another embodiment of current invention, the tube is a flexible pipe that could be encircled along the rim of flying disc.

According to another embodiment of current invention, the continuous hollow ring formed by encircling the tube is of diameter according to the size of flying disc.

According to another embodiment of current invention, the tube is affixed to the flying disc using some means; preferably, an adhesive could be used to affix the tube along the inner circumference of the rim.

According to another embodiment of current invention, the tube has some means to put inside or take out ball bearings.

According to another embodiment of current invention, the number of ball bearings added into tube is proportional to the increase in weight of the flying disc, and ball bearings added to the tube could be varied which may depend upon user's requirement for weight of flying disc.

According to another embodiment of current invention, the ball bearings could be produced from any suitable material, such as metal or high-density rubber. Preferably, the ball bearings could be made from steel.

According to another embodiment of current invention, the ball bearings could be of suitable size which may be based on the lumen diameter of the tube and such that the ball bearing could be easily inserted into the tube. Furthermore, the ball bearings inside the tube could roll freely inside the tube with the motion of the flying disc. Additionally lubrication could be provided on outer surface of the ball bearings to reduce the friction between adjacent ball bearings, and between the ball bearing and the inner surface of tube.

According to another embodiment of current invention, the tube further comprises a suitable source of illumination.

Thus, the present invention provides a unique and economical way to adjust the weight of flying disc with ability to glow in dark so that it can be used for playing in evening and night.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To further clarify various aspects of some example embodiments of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawing. It is appreciated that the drawing depicts only illustrated embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a bottom planar view of the flying disc showing the tube.

FIG. 2 is sectional view of the flying disc of FIG. 1 showing the ball bearings inside the tube.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

The present invention provides a flying disc with improved flight characteristics. The flying disc of current invention comprises a tube encircled along the rim of a conventional flying disc. The tube has includes ball bearings for manipulating the weight of flying disc.

Preferably, the flying disc according to present invention can be produced from polymeric plastic material and has a saucer shape with a rim located around the perimeter of the saucer; the rim is curved downwardly from the saucer and has a configuration such that the flying disc when viewed in elevation approximates the shape of an airfoil. Typically, the weight density of the rim can be higher than the center portion of disc. Now looking at the figure showing an exemplary embodiment of present invention, which is a flying disc. The FIG. 1 illustrates the bottom planar view of a flying disc 1 according to present invention, wherein the hollow tube 2 is encircled along the inner circumference of the rim of flying disc. The tube substantially forms a continuous hollow ring with two opposite ends of the tube removably coupled using a sleeve 3. Further, FIG. 2 illustrates a clear view of a section 4 of the FIG. 1. As seen in FIG. 2, the hollow tube contains predetermined number of ball bearings that increase the weight ratio of rim to center thereby allowing the flying disc to be thrown up to more distance.

The flying disc illustrates in the figure is substantially circular shaped and having 11 in. diameter. The tube is 22 in. in length and lumen diameter is 3/18 in. The flying disk is made of polymeric plastic material conventionally used in making flying disk. The hollow tube is drawn from plastic material that produces flexible and tough tubing. The hollow tube is affixed around the inner circumference of the flying disk using an adhesive and the opposite ends are connected using a joint, which is a cylindrical pipe that is frictionally overlapped on both ends of the tube. The ball-bearings are of 5/16 in. diameter and made of stainless steel, and are occupying almost half of the length of hollow tube.

The ball bearing according to present invention are round balls produced from dense materials such as steel, rubber, and the diameter of the bearings could be varied and may depend upon the size of flying disk and the diameter of hollow tube. The diameter of the bearings should be lesser than the lumen diameter of the hollow tube so that the ball bearing could freely roll inside the hollow tube. The outer surface of the bearings could be smoothened to reduce the friction between adjacent bearings in the hollow tube. Further, lubricating agents such as oils, grease and like obvious to a skilled person for providing lubrications to ball bearings could be added in the hollow tube.

The length and diameter of the tube could vary according to the size of the flying disk, and preferably, the length of the tube should be such that the tube could be encircled almost completely around inner circumference of the flying disk and the ball bearing could roll throughout the length of the tube without any obstruction. The joint used to couple the open end of the tubes could be a cylindrical pipe made from rigid or flexible material that frictionally retains the tube ends. A small rubber or silicon tube/sleeve could also be used. The joint should allow at least one end of the tube to be taken out for inserting or withdrawing the bearings from the hollow tube. Thus, a user could add more ball bearings for increasing the weight of the flying disc for use in playing on a windy day. Conversely, some of the ball bearings could be taken out of the hollow tube for making the flying disc light in weight. Thus, the user does not have to buy flying discs of different weights.

The tube may further include an illumination source such as LEDs, or the tube could be made from photo luminescent materials. The flying disc with illuminations can be used for playing in evening or night and further improves the appearance of flying disc, particularly to children.

The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, the preferred feature of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows.

Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conception and specific embodiment as a basis for designing or modifying other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention and that such other structures do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form. 

1. A flying disk with improved flying characteristics comprising: a. a saucer shape disc having a rim located around a perimeter of said saucer shape disc, said rim is curved downwardly; b. a hollow tubing encircled around an inner circumference of said flying disc; and c. a plurality of ball bearing encompassed inside said hollow tubing, said plurality of ball bearing having a diameter less than a lumen diameter of said hollow tubing permitting free rolling of said plurality of ball bearing inside said hollow tubing.
 2. The flying disc of claim 1, wherein the opposite ends of said hollow tubing are removably coupled using a cylindrical sleeve forming a continuous hollow ring.
 3. The flying disc of claim 1, wherein said flying disc is produced from plastic material.
 4. The flying disc of claim 1, wherein said hollow tubing further comprise a lubricating agent.
 5. The flying disc of claim 1, wherein said hollow tubing further comprise a means for illumination.
 6. The flying disc of claim 1, wherein said hollow tubing is affixed to said rim using an adhesive.
 7. The flying disc of claim 1, wherein said hollow tubing is produced from a flexible material.
 8. The flying disc of claim 1, wherein additional ball bearings could be added into said hollow tubing or a portion of said plurality of ball bearing could be withdrawn permitting adjusting the weight of said flying disc.
 9. The flying disc of claim 1, wherein said plurality of ball bearing is made of steel material.
 10. A method of adjusting a weight of a flying disc for improving flying characteristics of said flying disc, said method comprising the step of providing a hollow tubing comprising a plurality of ball bearings, affixing said hollow tubing around an inner circumference of said flying disc such that said plurality of ball bearings could freely roll inside said hollow tubing, inserting additional ball bearings into said hollow tube to increase the weight of said flying disc, removing a portion of said plurality of ball bearing of decreasing the weight of said flying disc.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein said method further comprise a step of providing a cylindrical sleeve for removably coupling opposite ends of said hollow tubing affixed around said inner circumference of said flying disc, said cylindrical sleeve adapted to frictionally overlap the opposite ends of said hollow tubing, said cylindrical sleeve permitting removal said portion of plurality of ball bearing or inserting said additional ball bearings.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein said method further comprises a step of adding a means for illumination to said hollow tubing.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of affixing said hollow tubing around said inner circumference of the flying disc comprises the use of an adhesive.
 14. A device for improving the flying characteristics of a flying disc, said device comprising a. a hollow tubing of a length such that said tubing can almost completely encircle around an inner circumference of said flying disc; b. a plurality of ball bearing encompassed inside said hollow tubing, said ball bearing having a diameter less than a lumen diameter of said hollow tubing permitting free rolling of said plurality of ball bearing inside said hollow tubing; c. a connecting means for removably coupling opposite ends of said hollow tube forming a continuous hollow ring, said connecting means permitting removal of a portion of said plurality of ball bearing from said hollow tubing and adding additional ball bearing into said hollow tubing; and said device configured to couple along said inner circumference of said flying disc.
 15. The device of claim 14, wherein said device further comprise a means for illumination.
 16. The device of claim 14, wherein said hollow tubing further comprising a lubrication means.
 17. The device of claim 14, wherein said device is coupled to said inner circumference of said flying disc using an adhesive. 